83 SD Steering issue
 

Imagine this scenario, you just bought an 83 SD, 260k but pretty well kept, drives straight at 60 in the right lane, drifts a little left in the fast lane but barely noticed. Again, in the right lane and at 60 on straight, maintained highway it almost hands-off driving...then, after like 600 miles of side roads and really short hops here and there over 3 weeks, you once drive on the same highway and she drifts left everywhere. It's not tortuous counter-steering but it's really different then it was. Tires are good, no bumps were hit, wind was not an issue. What is it and if it gets worse where do I look? From day one there was a whirring growl from the front end but it has not gotten any worse, but something is different. If a wheel bearing was going out would it talk like that and would it build up heat after, say 50 miles at 60?

A bad wheel bearing can make the noise you are describing. Do it make the noise any worse in either a left or right hand turn?

Mine used to drift to the right to the point I had to counter steer pretty good, now after tire rotation it drifts to the left, though not as much as it used to when it went to the right. Weird. Tomorrow @1pm the stealership is going to do my alignment. Yay! More cookies n' coffee time. :D I have a strange issue with my rear right wheel, whenever driving in such a way that puts g-force on that wheel to the right, such as going into a right turn, so the pull on the wheel is away from the car, I get a squeeeee sound, going straight or to the left there is nothing, just when the forces are pulling out on the wheel. This last happened last winter and I discovered it to be the parking brake shoes, because when squaling if I applied the parking brake a little it disappears, but reappeared when the brake was released (even a slight press on the parking brake makes it go away) But about 4 months ago I changed out the shoes/rotors/pads, everything. Now the squeal is back, same as last year, on the same wheel. WHY. applying the brake a touch as before makes it go away, as always. Must just be a quirk. I don't really care, I just think its weird. With the radio up I never hear it anyways usually. I did 80 on the freeway today on the way to the dealer for about 10 miles, turned off the radio, all was smooth and running great....so the wheel itself is fine, its just the stupid rubbing brake shoe....

No, the noise is very constant no matter what I do with the wheel. It changes pitch a bit with speed but even in neutral it's constant while coasting. The rear end growls under load but drops off in neutral so it's not that. The driveshaft bearing I just replaced...but don't think it's coming from there...

It could be a bearing problem on one of the wheels, does the sound change when turning? Also you describe growling when under acceleration, that would lead me to suspecting worn differential/cv axles....I would look into checking those items out. Also, jack up each wheel and spin it by hand, it should spin freely and have no side to side wobble whatsoever, tight. There should only be a slight "rubbing" sound when spinning the wheels from the brake pads brushing on the rotors. If you hear any grinding or clicking from the wheel then I would say that wheel probably has a bad bearing.

Ok, I know what I'm doing tomorrow. Front end. Thanks guys, I'll be back.